AFI picks its Top 10

The American Film Institute has announced its outstanding movies for 2008, a list that includes both the blockbuster "The Dark Knight" and a couple of small movies with jewel-like performances. Its roster, in alphabetical order:

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

"The Dark Knight"

"Frost/Nixon"

"Frozen River"

"Gran Torino"

"Iron Man"

"Milk"

"WALL-E"

"Wendy and Lucy"

"The Wrestler"

The AFI, which honors those in front and behind the camera of movies and TV shows (a separate roster), will celebrate its selections at a Jan. 9 luncheon in Los Angeles. A 13-member jury spent two days deliberating about the movies of 2008. Leonard Maltin chaired the panel, which also included Richard Schickel from Time, Anne Thompson from Variety and writer-producer-director Robert Towne.

 (Photo below, by Simon Max Hill and courtesy of Oscilloscope Pictures, shows Michelle Williams as Wendy. 

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